Dee Hardison, right, former mayor of Torrance, stands with Ron Hasse, president and publisher of the Daily Breeze, after she presented the paper the annual Dee Hardison Award for the paper's commitment to covering the arts and entertainment at the James R. Armstrong Theatre. They stand next to a wall sculpture featuring the names of past receiptients. Wednesday, November 6, 2013. (Scott Varley / Staff Photographer)

Given by the Torrance Performing Arts Consortium, a group of several local organizations, the award was presented in conjunction with the annual Daily Breeze Making a Difference Awards at the James R. Armstrong Theatre.

The honor was first given in 2001 to the award’s namesake and former Mayor Dee Hardison, a noted patron of the local arts scene and consortium co-founder.

“It is an honor and a privilege to receive the Dee Hardison Award from the Torrance Performing Arts Consortium,” Hasse said in a statement. “It’s one of the most prestigious awards you can receive in this city, and it’s a testimony to the Daily Breeze’s commitment to providing support and coverage of the local dance, music, theater and arts scene. Ms. Hardison, TPAC and the Daily Breeze share a common goal, and that is to make the South Bay a better place to live, work and play.”

Hardison noted that the newspaper’s Making a Difference Awards, approved by the TPAC board in 2005, played a role in the Daily Breeze receiving the civic honor.

“In the Spirit of Beauty,” the bronze sculpture that has become a symbol of the awards, is on permanent display in the theater foyer where the ceremony was held.

This year, the newspaper presented the awards to seven recipients, including Elijah Pressman, assistant artistic instructor of the South Bay Ballet, and actor Ted Lange of “The Love Boat” fame.

In February, Lange will direct his original play, “George Washington’s Boy,” at Torrance’s George Nakano Theatre.